Fighting FirstUS Forces In North Africa 1942-43The latest Mid War book for Flames Of War 4th Edition is here. Fighting First is 52 pages and covers the American forces fighting in North Africa through the Tunisian campaign.

The Mid-War Americans date right back to the first version of Flames Of War, with the books Old Ironsides in 2003, covering armored forces, followed by Stars and Stripes in 2005, which added infantry forces.

A lot has changed since then, of course, and the latest book brings the US Army up to date with the most recent edition of the rules. In doing so, it will bring a lot of added variety to Mid War battlefields, which is sure to be welcome.

Patton's Fighting First - Army DealBringing Freedom to the world is no easy task but Patton's boys are ready to get the job done.

Patton's Fighting First is a completely mechanized army deal that covers all the bases with three Stuarts ready to dash ahead and cause some trouble, five Shermans that forum the solid and dependable core, and a pair of M10 tank destroyers that can keep German Panzers honest.

This all plastic army deal comes with 10 tanks, decal sheets and unit cards.

M3 Lee Tank Platoon (Plastic)In the build-up to entering the war, US Army planners knew they would need a 75mm-armed tank to overcome the latest German panzers. Of the proposed designs which could be produced quickly, none had a turret big enough to hold a 75mm gun. As a temporary solution, the hull of a pre-war M2A1 medium tank was modified to take a short M2 75mm gun in a limited traverse sponson in the right front of the hull, while retaining a 37mm gun in the turret.

M4 Sherman Tank Platoon (Plastic)The M4 Medium Tank—best known by the nickname ‘Sherman’. Over the course of the war there will be numerous variants, changing the engine and suspension, adding more armour and bigger guns, but all with the same tall, solid shape.The M4A1 model, recognisable by its distinctive rounded single-piece cast upper hull, is the first Sherman variant to enter combat with the US armored forces. Most of the initial production run of the original M4 variant, with its sharpsided welded upper hull, were supplied to the British through the Lend-Lease programme

As well as serving with US armored divisions in the light battalions of the armored regiments, thousands of M3 Light Tanks were supplied to Britain and the Soviet Union.The M3 Stuart was mechanically reliable, and even though it had lighter armor and a smaller gun than the latest German panzers, its small size and high speed made it well suited to probing enemy defences and fighting a free-wheeling and tactical style of moving battle

M10 3-Inch Tank Destroyer Platoon (Plastic)The most potent weapon the US Army has in Tunisia for dealing with enemy tanks is the M10 tank destroyer, officially named the M10 3-inch Gun Motor Carriage. It has one job: to stalk and destroy enemy tanks, breaking up the focused armoured attacks for which the German panzer divisions have become famous.

Armored Recon PatrolEach Armored Recon Platoon has two patrols of four vehicles each. The US Army likes its reconnaissance units to pack a punch. The M3A1 carries three machine-guns—one .50-calibre (12.7mm) and two .30 calibre (7.62 mm) mounted on a sliding rail around the top of the passenger compartment. Before it speeds back to report on enemy positions, it is more than capable of mowing down any enemy infantry caught in the open

M4 81mm Armored Mortar PlatoonThe M4 MMC (Mortar Motor Carriage) carries an 81mm Mortar in a specially modified halftrack, with a reinforced floor that allows the weapon to fire from inside the vehicle. This means they’re always on hand to give indirect fire support the instant it is needed.

T30 75mm Assault Gun PlatoonThe T30 HMC (Howitzer Motor Carriage) is a simple but effective weapon, consisting of an M1 75mm Pack Howitzer mounted on an M3 Half-track.The T30 can be found in the armored battalions' and armored rifle battalions' assault gun platoons, as well as the infantry regiments' cannon company. Assault guns are very versatile. As well as direct fire support and long-range artillery, they can also be useful for anti-tank fire, but only as a last resort

Rifle Company (Plastic)Even in this modern, mechanised war, the infantry remain the backbone of the army—they don’t win battles on their own, but no war is won without them. The US ‘doughboys’ are not yet battle-hardened, but they are no slouches. Their lack of experience is partly overcome by their long and rigorous training.

Armored Rifle Platoon (Plastic)In the build-up to entering the war, US Army planners knew they would need a 75mm-armed tank to overcome the latest German panzers. Of the proposed designs which could be produced quickly, none had a turret big enough to hold a 75mm gun. As a temporary solution, the hull of a pre-war M2A1 medium tank was modified to take a short M2 75mm gun in a limited traverse sponson in the right front of the hull, while retaining a 37mm gun in the turret.

M3 Halftrack Platoon (Plastic)Even though the ‘blitz doughs’ have nicknamed it the ‘purple heart box’, the M3 Half-track is a versatile and resilient machine. However its body offers all-around protection, including an armoured shutter over the radiator and a bulletproof windscreen.

M7 Priest Armored Artillery (Plastic)While towed artillery is fine for the infantry divisions, an armored force requires a good self-propelled artillery piece which can keep up with the tanks as they advance.The British gave the M7 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage the nickname ‘Priest’ because of the pulpit-like appearance of its machine-gun mounting ring.

105mm Field Artillery Battery (Plastic)The M2 105mm Howitzer is the US Army’s standard division-level howitzer. The divisional artillery of the 1st Infantry Division includes four artillery battalions, each with three four-gun batteries a total of 48 powerful guns.

The 105mm howitzer can fire a semi-fixed 15kg (33lb) high-explosive shell to a range of 11km (7miles), raining destruction anywhere it is needed on the battlefield.

P-40 Warhawk Fighter FlightThe Curtiss P-40 is the US Army Air Forces' main fighter-bomber in the North African theatre. It may not be the USAAF’s best fighter—its dogfighting capabilities are outmatched by the Luftwaffe's best fighters—but it is well suited to the ground-attack role, posing a serious threat to both armoured and soft-skinned targets. The P-40 fighter/bomber was the third-most numerous US fighter of World War II.

M1917 Machine-gun Platoon (plastic) (US784)The Browning M1917 HMG has a water-filled cooling jacket around the barrel, allowing it to conduct sustained fire without danger of overheating. With its heavy tripod and water tank, the M1917 weighs over 45kg (100lbs). It is designed for defence, not to charge into assaults alongside the infantry

Mortar PlatoonMortars fire in a high arc, dropping a high explosive bomb down onto the enemy's positions. Rifle Companies can call on the support of two types of mortar—three 60mm mortars from their own Weapons Platoon, as well as another six 81mm mortars from the Battalion's Weapons Company.

37mm Anti-tank Gun PlatoonThe M3 37mm gun is the US Army's first dedicated anti-tank gun. Its small armour piercing round is not much of a threat to the tough front armour of the German panzers, but it can still be deadly from the side, especially at close range. The Battalion's anti-tank platoon was originally part of the Weapons Company, but it is now attached to the HQ Company.

Fighting First Command CardsCommand Cards provide Flames Of War generals with a way to further personalise and enhance their forces. These optional cards include a range of options that can enhance or change your gaming experience by adding new Formations, Upgrades and Warriors, giving you even more choice when building your force.

Fighting First Token SetEven though they are toy soldiers, your troops react to heavy fire like real soldiers. Sometimes they get pinned down or bail out of their tanks. They can dig foxholes for protection or go to ground, hiding from the enemy. Tokens help you keep track of the state of your troops.The Fighting First Token Set contains 20 gaming tokens.

Getting Started With Fighting FirstFor a new player starting Flames of War, Patton’s Fighting First offers an ideal gateway to starting a Mid War US force. But once you’ve bought the army box and book, what do you do next? Well this article’s here to give you some suggestions and ideas.

Dan's M3 75mm GMC FormationI saw that in the new Fighting First book that the M3 75mm GMC (Gun, Motor Carriage) tank destroyer was missing while I understand their reasons for not including it I wanted to create an unofficial card for my own games.